The Washington, D.C.-based Smithsonian Institution recently agreed to pay $50,000 to a tourist it had previously kicked out for wearing pro-life apparel.
according to CBN NewsThe National Air and Space Museum has agreed to pay a settlement to a group of 12 plaintiffs: Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School students and their parents in Greenville, South Carolina.
The students first filed the lawsuit after visiting the museum during the March for Life rally on January 20, 2023. At the time, all the students toured the Smithsonian Institution wearing beanies with the word “Rosary PRO-LIFE” written on them.
of American Law and Justice CenterA group representing the plaintiffs said, “Museum staff mocked and called the students names, and made comments that the museum was a ‘neutral zone’ where such comments could not be made.”
Officials “eventually removed the students from the museum…The students gleefully rubbed their hands together as they exited the building.”
But at the same time, other museum visitors wore different types of hats without any problems.
“This is completely outrageous and unconstitutional discrimination, and ACLJ is fighting back,” ACLJ Executive Director and attorney Jordan Sekulow wrote at the time.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs alleged that the federal museum violated their First and Fifth Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
“This is a clear violation of the First Amendment, not just of free speech, but of religion as well. The federal government can never prohibit speech with which it and its employees do not agree.” said Sekulow.
“Imagine your child being accosted, assaulted, and kicked out of a museum that other children are allowed into because of their beliefs,” he added. Ta.
A month after filing the lawsuit, the Smithsonian Institution entered a consent decree.
“The Smithsonian’s policy is to ensure that all security personnel stationed at all Smithsonian museums open to the public and at the National Zoo do not allow visitors to receive written messages containing religious and political speech,” the pair wrote. “We reaffirm that we do not prohibit the wearing of hats or other types of clothing.”
Last week, the two sides reached a settlement agreement in which the Smithsonian Institution agreed to pay $50,000, allow tourists a private tour of the National Air and Space Museum, and hear a video apology from museum officials.
“Defendants represent that the Smithsonian Institution conducted a thorough investigation of the events that occurred on January 20, 2023,” the settlement states.
“In doing so, Defendants will ensure that Smithsonian Institution personnel identify all Conservation Service employees known to have been involved in or participated in the alleged incidents, and that all Conservation Service employees are known to have been involved in or participated in the alleged incidents. I confirm that I have spoken with the Allied Universal Security Service, which involved instructing the plaintiff to remove his hat. ”
The museum also “informs all security personnel stationed at all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo that are open to the public the current Smithsonian policy regarding the wearing of hats and other types of clothing that contain religious messages.” We agreed to reconfirm using the bulk distribution method.” And political speeches too. ”
Previously, ACLJ a settlement was reached A similar incident occurred in December after a National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) security guard threatened to expel a visitor who also wore pro-life attire.
Image credit: ©Getty Images/Alex Wong/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributor to Christian Headlines and host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast dedicated to sound doctrine and Biblical truth. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Alliance Theological Seminary.
